Northwest Notes March 15, 2021

Boise State selected to NIT field

Boise State received a No. 2 seed to the National Invitation Tournament, the NCAA announced Sunday, and will face No. 3 SMU on Thursday (6 p.m., ESPN) at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas.

The Broncos have been selected to three of the last four NIT fields. They are making their seventh appearance in the NIT. Boise State is 4-6 all-time in the tournament.

The 2021 NIT is a 16-team tournament, with all games taking place in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. First-round games will take place at UNT Coliseum in Denton, Texas, and the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas. The quarterfinals, semifinals, consolation and championship games will be played at Comerica Center.

The winner of Boise State and SMU will take on the winner of Memphis and Dayton. All four second-round games will take place March 25.

Boise State (18-8) is 5-6 all-time against SMU. The Mustangs are 11-5 on the year and finished fourth in the American Athletic Conference with a 7-4 league mark. SMU is guided by Kendric Davis who leads the AAC in scoring (18.8 points per game) and assists (7.4 assists per game).

Tickets will go on sale today through the Boise State Athletic Ticket Office (broncosports.com/tickets). Attendance will be limited to no more than 25 percent capacity. Seating will be reserved in pods of two or four and facemasks will be required at all times.

EWU QB Barriere honored for second straight week

Eastern Washington quarterback Eric Barriere was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week for the second straight week.

Barriere led No. 16 Eastern Washington to a come-from-behind 46-42 victory at Idaho State on Saturday. The Eagles scored 29 points in the second half to earn the win. Barriere completed 34 of 50 passes for 455 yards and five touchdowns. The Eagles posted 596 yards of total offense.